I am not a very good writer but I am an excellent proofreader and copy editor for other’s writing.  When I worked in a fundraising office, I was everyone’s favorite second set of eyes. I read everything from key proposals for big donors to marketing copy for postcards. I am good at spotting typos, grammatical errors and superfluous phrases. I help strengthen the text by eliminating what doesn’t serve it. Editing, good editing, can really save a narrative. 

Mark, today’s Gospel writer, is a good editor. He doesn’t waste any time getting to the heart of the story, does he?  His gospel narrative is action packed from the very first pages. We first encounter Jesus at his Baptism. Jesus then promptly gathers his Apostles and heads to Peter’s hometown of Capernaum in Galilee, an area that will serve as home base for a good while. There, he is invited as an itinerant preacher to come to the synagogue on the Sabbath to declaim the Torah, offer a teaching, and answer the assembly’s questions. Mark tells us that the people “were astonished at Jesus’ teaching, for He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Moses that we hear in the first reading: I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin and will put my words into his mouth.

Jesus teaches and everyone in the assembly is astonished. It’s a new teaching, not what the scribes typically deliver. So, the big question is – what on earth did Jesus actually say? What astonishing words of wisdom did he impart? Mark remains silent on this matter. What Mark wants us to know is that the people were in awe, that their hearts were touched in a way that made all prior teachings pale  in comparison. What Mark highlights is that Jesus offered up a doozy of a miracle to those in attendance. It’s this pairing of words AND deeds that Mark underscores. Jesus seems like a quiet overachiever here, doesn’t he?

We do hear a few words about this miracle. In the synagogue, there is a man with an unclean spirit. This is no doubt someone the members of the synagogue knew well, a man who lived among them. Whether they anticipated his outburst we cannot know. In any event, Jesus has an encounter with this man with the unclean spirit. 

I find in this exchange a connection to what we’ve been hearing in the Gospels over the last several weeks.  In Advent, we learned that John came to testify to the light. At Christmas and Epiphany, we heard that the Messianic revelation was made to the shepherds and magi. In Mark’s Gospel, it’s the unclean spirit that testifies to the light and reveals the true nature of Jesus: “I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” the possessed man cries out. Darkness itself directs our attention to the light. 

The demoniac experiences a clear and true recognition of the mission of Jesus even as he disdains it. Furthermore, he expects harsh judgment from Jesus, asking “Have you come to destroy us?” Jesus’ action is what provides the resounding no to the question. He commands the spirit to come out of the man. The man is convulsed and thrown to the ground screaming as the unclean spirit leaves his body.  Like a good editor, Jesus excises the unclean spirit, eliminating what doesn’t serve this man. Jesus uses his authority not to intimidate, malign or molest the man but to liberate him from his suffering. Jesus offers healing and restoration in lieu of torment, retribution or destruction.

No wonder the gathered crowd was amazed. The curing of the possessed man provided great credence to the teaching of this newcomer. Jesus’ words impress but the power of his words becomes manifest in his deeds. And what must the man who had been possessed feel?  Up to that moment, he had been enslaved by this unclean spirit or illness that robbed him of joy and freedom. The hopelessness of his condition was presumptive for him and his entire village. God entered into that brokenness and did something merciful and surprising – offering up a completely transformed future for this man. What must that have felt like?

Finally, I’m intrigued that this miracle happens in a synagogue – in a holy place among holy men in the midst of a holy teaching.  We are reminded that it would be naive to think we can insulate ourselves from unclean spirits through our piety. Religious devotion is not an evacuation plan to help us escape earth for heaven. Our faith is a liberation plan to help free ourselves and others from pain and loneliness and despair. Like Christ, we must use our power and authority as believers to bring God’s Kingdom into the here and now, to reassure others of their dignity and worth and to show them they are loved. 

In other Gospels, Jesus gives his disciples authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. We are His disciples now, but do we believe we are capable of this work? That it is even possible? What unclean spirits do we face today? Which ones are within and which are without? What in your life right now requires a bit of editing to better shape the arc of your narrative? What is the story you want to be able to tell?